RIAs

Aiming at a new professional certification, the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard published a draft of best practices for fiduciaries, seeking to help investors distinguish between "product sellers and advice givers."

Some RIAs who claim to be for sale "have no intention of selling," said United Capital's Matt Brinker. "They like the dance."

A pair of sessions at the FSI OneVoice conference focused on recruiting and retention challenges facing IBDs, many of which center on hybrid or dually registered RIAs who are edging toward greater independence.

One of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most prominent independent wealth management firms is selling a majority equity interest.

"The prospects for organic growth for RIAs and IBDs have never been greater. We expect to see more lift-out and advisors turning independent activity in 2015," says Liz Nesvold, managing partner of New York-based investment banker Silver Lane.

Two Merrill Lynch advisors left the wirehouse for independent firm Snowden Lane Partners.

To create this ranking, we took our RIA Leaders list of the top fee-only independent RIAs, then calculated the average client account size. The results were illuminating.

Royal Bank of Canada sold its U.S. retail bank a few years ago to PNC. The company is back with a targeted play: City National, a Los Angeles bank that has built its business targeting the rich and working with Hollywood.

The advisor community is misinformed in thinking this generation doesn't have wealth yet, says TD Ameritrade's George Tamer.

'Let's put this behind us,' a group of Cetera planners told the RCS Capital home office in the wake of allegations against founder Schorsch.